Pipe hanger



May 196 c. F. MITTENZWEI 3,032,305

PIPE HANGER Filed May 28, 1959 INVENTOR. 0mm :5 [Mr/51am? Jimmy;

United StatesPatent O 3,032,305 PIPE HANGER Charles F. Mittenzwei, 4811Edgewood Place, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed May 28, 1959, Ser. No. 816,5329 Claims. (Cl. 248-62) This invention relates generally to pipe hangers,and more particularly to pipe hangers of the type used to support thewater pipes in residential and similar construction.

In residential and similar forms of construction, it is customary tosupport water and gas pipes beneath the fioor of the structure by pipehangers that are anchored to beams, joists, and similar floor-supportingmembers. These pipe supports range from forged hangers connected tosteel rods that are suitably anchored at their upper ends, to a loop ofperforated metal strap material, conventionally known as plumbers tape,and looped about the pipe with the upper end anchored to a joist or beamby means of a nail. Clearly, the use of plumbers tape as a pipe hangeris quick, convenient, and quite inexpensive. On the other hand, theactual support leaves something to be desired, and the appearance israther unsightly. This latter element may be a matter of some concernwhere pipes and their supports are frequently seen, as in a basement.

In many instances, a pipe hanger made from plumbers tape does not havesufficient strength, and hence a stronger hanger is needed. At the sametime, the expense of the custom made hangers and the additional laborrequired to install these hangers, including the cutting of thesupporting rod to the proper length, may be greater than is warrantedfor the particular job. Under these conditions, what is needed is a pipehanger that is intermediate between the inexpensive type of hanger andthe much more expensive custom made hanger.

It is therefore a major object of this invention to provide an improvedpipe hanger.

Another object of the invention is to provide such a pipe hanger thathas greater strength, and can support heavier loads, than the widelyused type hanger formed from plumbers tape.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a pipe hanger thathas a finished appearance, comparable to that of the previouslyavailable custom made hangers.

Still another object of the invention is to provide such a pipe hangerthat is simple in construction but easily formed to the proper length tomeet the requirements of the installation.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide such a pipehanger that is comparatively inexpensive and can easily and quickly beused by the plumber on the job to secure a neat and sturdy installation.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, andfrom the drawings illustrating that form in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a section of pipe, with the improvedpipe hanger engaging the pipe and with a floor joist or beam shown inphantom to indicate how the hanger is held;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the hanger shown in FIGURE 1,with the pipe and the beam or joist shown in section;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view of a portion of a tool, partially insection, illustrating how the vertical section of the hanger may be cutto the proper length and the nailing section formed; and

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the tool elements shown in FIGURE 3 asthey appear when applied to a pair of bolt cutters or similar cuttingequipment.

Referring now to the drawings, and particularly to FIGURE 1 thereof, thenumeral 10 indicates generally a pipe supported by a pipe hanger 11 froma beam or stud 12. As indicated, the pipe hanger 11 consists of threegeneral portions, the uppermost or nailing portion 13, the verticalrod-like section 14 extending downwardly from the nailing section, andfinally the pipe-engaging section 15.

The nailing section 13 includes the uppermost end of the vertical rod14, and an angularly positioned extension of that rod 16 having asharpened point 17. This nailing portion 13 is formed, as hereinafterdescribed by cutting the end of the vertical rod section 14 at an angleto form the point 17, and then bending the end of the rod section toform the angularly positioned portion or nail 16. With this form ofconstruction, the hanger 11 may be attached to a beam or joist 12 byplacing the point 17 against the surface of the joist and then hittingthe end of the vertical section 14, adjacent the nail section 16, with ahammer to drive the nail section into the joist to the positionindicated in FIGURE 2.

The pipe-receiving portion 15 is formed of the lower extension of thevertical section 14, which cooperates with a pivotally mounted latchinglink 20.

At its lower end, the vertical rod 14 is bent somewhat more than 360degrees to form a one-turn helix 21 having a substantially horizontalaxis. The rod member then continues in a generally downwardly direction,and then turns back and then upwardly to form a cradle section 22 whosecenter is substantially below the center of the helix 21. At the end ofthe cradle section, the rod is bent back, but spaced from itself, toform a loop or eye 23, this loop being closed by bending the final endof the rod section against the cradle section 22.

To support the latching link 20, a sleeve 25 is inserted in the helix21, making a snug fit within the helix so that the latter is heldagainst distortion when under load. The latching link 20 consistsessentially of an elongated link that is passed through the center ofthe bushing 25, the two arms of the link extending downwardly andengaging the outer surfaces of the pipe 10 above the eye 23. The lowerend of the latching link 20 is adapted to fit over the eye 20 to engagethe latter, as seen in FIGURES 1 and 2.

While it is possible to use a larger hanger for a smaller pipe, itispreferable to have the pipe engaging section 15 dimensionallycoordinated with the pipe 10 that it supports. In this way, a better fitand more satisfactory operation of the hanger is secured. Thus, thenormal resilience of the material forming the latching link 20 and thecradle 22 .cooperate to insure that the link 20 remains anchored on theeye 23, providing a snap or detent action. This action and theresilience is further enhanced by forming the cradle 22 so that it is incircumferential contact with the lower surface of,the pipe 10 forapproximately degrees, this circumferential section being preceded by atangent section that joins with the circumferential section at a pointapproximately 67 degrees below the vertical center line of the pipe.Similarly, the latching link 20 has an arcuate portion in its centerthat makes contact with the outer surface of the pipe 10 for a distanceof approximately 45 degrees, the upper end of this arcuate section beingjoined to a tangential section that extends to the helix 21 and sleeve25, while the lower end of the arcuate section is joined to a tangentthat extends over the eye 23.

When the hanger 11 has been installed, the pipe 10 may easily be placedin it by raising the latching link 20 to the position indicated indot-dash outline in FIGURE 2, and

placing the pipe into the cradle 22. The link 20 is then dropped to theposition in dotted outline in FIGURE 2, and a blow by a hammer will snapthe end of the link over the eye 23 to the position shown in solidoutline in MG- URE 2. If desired, a cotter key or safety wire may beinserted through the eye 23 to insure the retention of the latching link20 in the desired position, though normally this is not required. Toremove the pipe, and assuming that the safety wire or cotter key hasbeen removed from the eye 23, it is only necessary to lift slightly onthe pipe and to pry the lower end of the latching link over the eye 23,as by a screwdriver or similar means.

It will be appreciated that the axis of the pipe 10 that is to besupported will not always be parallel to the joist or beam 12, and willnot always be the same distance below that joist or beam. Consequently,the plane of the pipeengaging section may be rotated from the plane ofthe nailing section 13, and the distance between the two may vary. Allof these requirements may be met by originally manufacturing the pipehanger 11 with a vertical hanger rod 14 that is of sufficient length tomeet all normal requirements, but without any nailing section formed atthe upper end. On the job, the nailing section 13 may then be formed byusing the cut-off and bending die illustrated in FIGURE 3. Asillustrated in this figure, a pair of jaws are provided, these jawsbeing shaped to cut a rod or similar member at their upper edge. Mountedupon the jaws in a manner not restricting their cutting movement is ananchor plate 31 to which is attached a face plate 32 making an anglewith the anchor plate and held in this desired angular relationship by abacking plate 33. Preferably, the face plate 32 makes an angle ofapproximately 60 degrees with the cutting edge of the jaws 30, and thebacking plate 33 provides a firm and rigid connection between the faceplate 32 and the anchor plate 31.

Pivotally attached to the face plate 32 is a forming plate or lever 34.The vertical portion 14 of the han er 11 is adapted to be received onthe upper surface of the forming plate 34. and this plate has twolimiting positions, one indicated in full outline in FIGURE 3. where therod forming the vertical portion 14 extends along the upper surface ofthe forming plate, through an appropriate hole in the face p ate 32, andbetween the open jaws 30 and the other side of the cut-off and bendingdie. In this position. the upper surface of the forming plate 34 makesan an le of approximatelv 160 degrees with the cuttin ed es o the jaws30, so that when the jaws are closed, the end of the rod 14 is cut at anangle such that the cut surface makes an angle of approximately 20degrees with the axis of the rod.

As mentioned, the forming plate 34 is pivotally mounted to the faceplate 32, and in its other limiting position, the forming plate isparallel to the face plate but generally spaced a slight distance fromthat plate. As indicated, this spacing is substantially equal to thediameter of the rod 14, and consequently, when the rod 14 has been cut,the forming plate 34 may be pivoted to the position indicated bydot-dash outline in FIGURE 3, thus bending the end of the rod 14 andforming the nailing portion 13. Instead of spacing the forming plate 34from the face plate 32, is is poss ble to form a groove or otherrod-receiving recess in the face of the forming plate 34 so that the rodmay be bent to a position parallel to the face plate 32.

As suggested, a hole or aperture 35 is formed in the face plate 32, andextends through the anchor plate 31, this hole being of a sizesufiicient to receive the rod 14. Preferably, the diameter of the hole35 is approximately 15 percent larger than the diameter of the rod. Inthis way, the rod 14 can easily be inserted into the hole and betweenthe open jaws 31, and still will be firmly held when the excess amountof rod has been cut off, and the forming plate 34 is being rotated tothe alternate, upper position.

With the dimensions and proportions given, it will be recognized thatthe rod 14 undergoes a bend of approximately 100 degrees in being bentto form the nailing section 13, thus providing a slightly downwardlyprojecting shank 16, making an angle of approximately degrees with thevertical axis of the rod 14. 7 It has been found quite important to havethe nailing shank 16 at approximately this angle, and it has also beenfound important to have the end of this portion, forming the point 17,formed at an angle of approximately 20 degrees, as previously described.If the nailing portion is formed so that there is a great deviation fromthese angles. there is a likelihood that the nailing section will bendinstead of penetrating the wood as intended. This would materiallydetract from the value of such a hanger.

It will be appreciated, of course, that this hanger may be made indifferent sizes to receive different size pipes. Likewise, because ofthe different loads that will be imposed upon such a hanger, the rod orwire material used to form the hanger may be of different sizes, and ofdifferent materials. However, a soft material, such as a brass wire orrod, particularly in the smaller sizes, is usually undesirable, and atthe other extreme, a very hard and stiff material, such as some of theharder, high-strength steels, are undesirable. Usually, a mild steel,having a tensile strength of approximately 60,000 p.s.i., or greater,would be used to form the hanger. Such a steel, made in the form of arod or wire of No. 8 size, and fabricated into a hanger of the typedescribed, will normally be capable of supporting a load of 150 to 240pounds, depending upon the particular safety factor used. This isnormally more than adequate for installations where a pipe hanger ofthis type will be used. Other rod sizes may be used, of course.

From the foregoing, it will be appreciated that there has been shown anddescribed an improved pipe hanger fully capable of achieving the objectsand securing the advantages heretofore set forth, and particularlyadapted to being fitted on the job, as to both length and orientation,to the particular problems at hand. While there has been shown anddescribed a preferred form of the invention, it is to be recognized thatmodifications therein are possible, and the invention is not to belimited to the particular form or arrangement of parts herein describedand shown, except as limited by the claims.

I claim:

1. A pipe hanger which includes: a hanger rod; attaching means at theupper end of said rod comprising of a portion of said rod bent throughan angle greater than degrees to form a shank, the free end of saidshank being bevelled to provide a substantially fiat end surfacedisposed at right angles to the plane through said shank and rod and atan acute angle to the axis of said shank, whereby a point is formed onsaid shank, and said shank may be driven as by a nail by pounding on theupper end of said rod, adjacent said shank; pipe receiving means at thelower end of said rod comprising an arcuate member formed by an integralcontinuation of said rod, said arcuate member extending generallydownwardly and then upwardly to form a cradle to support a pipe frombelow; and pivoted retaining means extending across said arcuate memberand resiliently latched thereto in supporting relation.

2. A pipe hanger which includes: a hanger rod; attaching means at theupper end of said rod comprising a portion of said rod bent through anangle greater than 90 degrees to form a shank, the free end of saidshank being bevelled to provide a substantially fiat end surfacedisposed at right angles to the plane through said shank and rod and atan acute angle to the axis of said shank, whereby a point is formed onsaid shank, and said shank may be driven as a nail by pounding on theupper end of said rod, adjacent said shank; pipe receiving means at thelower end of said rod comprising a cylindrical member at said lower endof said rod, said cylindrical member having an axis generallyperpendicular to the axis of said rod, and an arcuate pipe receivingcradle portion whose center of curvature is substantially verticallyaligned with said axis of said cylindrical member and parallel thereto,said cradle portion terminating in a free end; and latching meanspivotally mounted to said cylindrical member and engaging the free endof said cradle portion in latching and supporting relation therewith,thereby retaining a pipe in said cradle portion.

3. A pipe hanger which includes: a hanger rod having a generallyvertical section, said rod being bent at the lower end of said sectionapproximately 360 forming a loop having a generally horizontal axis,said rod continuing from said loop downwardly and to one side and thencurving back to a position below said section and then upwardly to afree end to thereby form a cradle adapted to receive a pipe, said rodhaving on said free end a latching means; an elongated latching linkhaving one end journalled in said loop, the opposite end of said linkengaging said latching means to support said free end and retain a pipein the cradle; and attaching means at the upper end of said verticalsection of the rod.

4. The hanger as set forth in claim 3 wherein the center of said cradleis substantially in vertical alignment with the center of said loop;said latching means is formed by a projecting portion of said rodextending substantially horizontally and outwardly from said cradle; andsaid latching link is formed by an elongated ring adapted to be swunginto latching engagement with the underside of said projecting portion,said ring and cradle being bent to have such resiliency that the ringmay be forced over said projecting portion and then will snugly engagesaid last mentioned portion in latching relation, and the weight of apipe on said cradle serves to augment the latching relation.

5. The pipe hanger as set forth in claim 4, wherein said latching meansis formed by the free end of the rod being bent back, but spaced fromitself to form an eye, said eye being of a diameter to receive a pin,when said link is in its latching position, whereby the latching linkmay be positively held in its latching position.

6. A pipe hanger comprised of a formable, resilient rod and including asintegral elements an attaching portion, a hanger rod depending therefromand a pipe receiving portion at the lower end of said rod, said lastmentioned portion being arcuate in form and extending downwardly andthen upwardly to form a cradle to support a pipe from below andterminating in a free end spaced from the hanger rod to provide forinsertion of a pipe therebetween, and latching means extending acrosssaid pipe insertion space and engaging said free end in latching andsupporting relation,

7. A pipe hanger comprised of a formable, resilient rod and including: asubstantially straight, vertical hanger portion; an attachment portionintegral with said hanger portion at the upper end thereof; a pipereceiving portion integral with said hanger portion at the lower endthereof, said pipe receiving portion being arcuate in form and extendingdownwardly and then upwardly to form a cradle terminating in a free endspaced from the hanger portion to provide for insertion of a pipetherebetween into the cradle; and means pivotally mounted on the hangerto form a part thereof and extending across said pipe insertion spaceand resiliently latching said free end in supporting relation.

8. A pipe hanger comprised of a formable, resilient rod and including: asubstantially straight hanger portion having one end thereof adapted toform an attachment shank; a closed loop formed by said rod at theopposite end of said straight portion and having an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said rod; an arcuate pipe receiving cradleformed from said rod integral with said hanger portion and with saidloop formed therebetween, the axis of said cradle being substantiallyparallel to the axis of said straight portion; and latching meanspivoted in said loop and resiliently engaging said cradle in latchingand supporting relation therewith.

9. A pipe hanger comprised of a formable, resilient rod and including: asubstantially straight hanger portion having one end thereof adapted toform an attachment shank; a closed loop formed by said rod at theopposite end of said straight portion and having an axis substantiallyperpendicular to the axis of said rod; an arcuate pipe receiving cradleformed from said rod integral with said hanger portion and with saidloop formed therebetween, the axis of said cradle being substantiallyparallel to the axis of the loop and substantially aligned therewithalong the axis of said straight portion, said cradle terminating in afree end spaced from said hanger portion to provide for insertion of apipe therebetween; and latching means pivoted in said loop andresiliently engaging the free end of the cradle in latching andsupporting relation therewith.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS497,512 Beaton May 16, 1893 501,484 Reznor July 11, 1893 851,505 ErnstApr. 23, 1907 1,210,610 Dehn Jan. 2, 1917 2,417,269 Robertson Mar. 11,1947 2,900,155 Cameron Aug. 18, 1959 2,905,986 Young Sept. 29, 1959

